Caisse said members of the Centennial Gala Committee tried to bring the ticket price down, but “with the meal costs, the 7-piece band, and the decorations, we couldn’t price the event any cheaper. Unlike Oldsmar’s Centennial Gala, we also got no City money to subsidize the tickets.”

Caisse added the Spa was counting on making 250 meals in order for them to make their numbers work financially, and he said the band cost about $4,000 for the evening.

He said event organizers were sorry they were not able to pull the Gala together despite their best efforts.

“Ultimately, the Centennial Committee did a lot of work to have a last-minute Gala because the City wanted Centennial events, but we misjudged the public when we thought they wanted an expensive elegant affair,” Caisse wrote.

Caisse said the Chamber of Commerce, which was hosting the event, would be informing members of the cancellation and refunding those who already purchased tickets.

That’s a bummer. I don’t know what if any last ditch efforts were made to try to salvage the event, but it seems like somehow the committee, the chamber and the commission could have figured something out. It’s pretty embarrassing for the city to have the pinnacle event of the centennial celebration cancelled. 🙁

$4000 for the band can come across as high or pricey, but really, it isn’t. That was a seven piece band. They were to play on a Saturday night at a premium place for a premium event. So $4000 translates into $571 per member. If they add a sound guy (which I’d bet they did, I would), then it’d become around $500 per person. If you add expenses, strings, practice facility, gas, the manager, the roadie, uncle Sam, whatnot, for sure even less that the $500 per person now. They could have tried to spend less on the band, but when it comes to live entertainment, you get what you pay for. Personally, I would have done it for $500, but not less. Of course, I’m one guy performing a solo act. This is the Spa, for crying out loud. Plus it’s a huge event. I’d be embarrassed to charge less.
But still… $100 per ticket? Nope. Not for me. I don’t need to spend money on a $100 ticket, just to appreciate this town.

That’s got to be one of the saddest headlines I’ve ever read. Especially because they tried to make it work, and it was supposed to be the highlight of the centennial celebration, and the only reason they had to cancel it was that the citizens didn’t care enough to want to go. If this had been Tampa, or even Tarpon Springs, you know they would’ve had the turnout they needed. I mean, I wouldn’t have paid $100 to go, but then I’m at college hundreds of miles away. I guess it kind of shows how little of an established culture there is in Safety Harbor.